“Sucked Out” – Superdrag
(Words/music: John Davis, available on Regretfully Yours, Elektra 1996) 

Sitting there right next to the not-so-subtle critique of the mainstream music hype cycle (and think of how much quicker it’s become since then!) is a self-conscious awareness.  Superdrag never matched the popularity of “Sucked Out” yet seemed to know their fate from the song’s first line.  Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other one-hit-wonder about being a one-hit-wonder, but here’s Superdrag asking what would become of them after their fifteen minutes ticked away (for the record: they made a few more albums (only one more on a major label) and John Davis became born again).

And in there, with the overt commentary and acute self-awareness, is a moment of sheer joy.  When it comes time for the hook, the rest of the band backs off and Davis unleashes the song’s signature line in a visceral scream.  Even if the question gets to the heart of his complaint – the industry lacks soul, essentially – and hits a little close to home for a band who would exit the spotlight as quickly as they entered it, it’s a moment of unbridled joy.  Just take it for a ride; when it gets to the hook, sing along at the top of your lungs.  When done right, it’s neither self-conscious nor cynical (and yes, it garners odd looks from the people in the next lane, especially in the summer when the windows are open).  Ultimately, this is why the song still sounds fun – not because it’s still prescient, not because it’s self-aware, but because for a few seconds, it reduces otherwise sane people into screaming messes.

More on Superdrag: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm